Cà Tím Kho Tộ Recipe

Lastest Updated June 26, 2024
Home » Recipes A-Z » Cà Tím Kho Tộ Recipe

Cà tím kho tộ is the Vietnamese name for braised eggplants. Today, I will introduce a version of braised eggplant stuffed with minced pork. This dish features a savory flavor with an umami profile and a soft texture from the eggplant.

In this read, you will learn more about the story behind cà tím kho tộ, along with the tools, ingredients, cooking methods, and tips needed to create the dish. Making cà tím kho tộ is a brilliant way to enjoy eggplants.

Braised Eggplant With Minced Pork

An Introduction to Cà Tím Kho Tộ

Cà tím kho tộ is a Vietnamese dish that revolves around braised eggplants. This Vietnamese braised eggplant with minced pork features a savory and addicting proper, yet it’s simple to make with minimal preparation requirements.

Although you can prepare the recipe with a meat filling, cà tím kho tộ can be easily adapted to suit vegetarian preferences by excluding meat. The highlight of this dish lies in its beautiful thick sauce that coats the eggplants, perfect for serving alongside steaming rice or crusty bread.

What Are the Necessary Tools for Cà Tím Kho Tộ?

To make cà tím kho tộ, you need to prepare a few simple utensils as below:

  • Skillet: For frying and braising the dish.
  • Knife: For slicing the eggplants and chopping other ingredients.
  • Chopping board: Your go-to tool to have a flat surface for chopping or slicing ingredients.
  • Tongs: Used to turn the eggplants while frying.
  • Mixing bowl: For working the minced meat mixture with other spices.
  • Eco-friendly disposable plastic gloves: Use gloves to keep your hands clean while mixing the minced meat mixture.
Tools Make Ca Tim Kho To

What Ingredients Does Cà Tím Kho Tộ Need?

Making Vietnamese braised eggplant is simple with the following ingredients:

For Preparing and Marinating:

  • Minced pork: The main filling for stuffing between the eggplant slices.
  • Eggplants: Use medium eggplants of around 1.2 pounds.
  • Lime juice and salt: This mixture prevents the cut eggplants from turning brown.
  • Shallot, garlic, and chili: A simple combination of aromatic elements to add to cà tím kho tộ.
  • Chopped green onion: Add a final green touch to the dish.
  • Brown sugar, salt, and pepper: To incorporate with the minced meat mixture.

For Braising the Dish:

  • Oyster sauce: Add a sweet and salty profile to the braising process.
  • Fish sauce: Any fish sauce variety is fine for adding a salty taste to Ca Tim Kho To.
  • Dark soy sauce: Create a dark color when combined with the oyster sauce.
  • Caramel sauce: You can use bottled products from the store or make your own Vietnamese caramel sauce version for a bitter taste to the dish.
  • Vegetable oil: For frying the stuffed eggplant slices.
  • Freshwater: For diluting the braising mixture a little bit.
  • Red pepper powder: Add an additional heat element to the dish.
Ingredients Does Ca Tim Kho To Need

How to Prepare Cà Tím Kho Tộ at Home?

Here are the procedures you need to go through to make cà tím kho tộ:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Wash all your vegetables, including green onions and eggplants.

Prepare the mixture of water, 15 ml of lime juice, and a tablespoon of salt.

Soak the Eggplant

Cut the eggplants into 2-inch slices, then proceed to split those slices in half. Continue making 5 to 6 cuts into the slices, but not all through. Then, soak the eggplant slices in lime juice and salt to prevent browning.

Cut the Eggplants

Step 2: Make the Meat Filling

Mix the minced meat thoroughly with:

  • 1.5 teaspoons of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of pepper
  • 1 teaspoon of salt.
Mix Thoroughly The Minced Meat

Fill the eggplant cracks with the meat filling. Ensure not to overfill the eggplant, or else you may rip the eggplant slice.

Eggplant Cracks with the Meat Filling

Step 3: Fry the Eggplant

Heat up the vegetable oil in a skillet; make sure it’s not too hot to avoid splashing when frying the eggplant.

Place each eggplant piece into the hot oil for frying.

Place Eggplant in Pan

Fry the eggplants at medium-low temperature and gently flip the pieces for a golden brown color. The frying process will take 10 minutes before removing the eggplant pieces.

Fry the Eggplants

Step 4: Braise the Eggplant

Stir-fry 1.41 ounces of shallot, garlic, and chili. Then add freshwater and the following ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons of caramel sauce

Introduce the fried eggplant slice into the sauce mixture and cook with a lid on for 10 to 15 minutes (or until the sauce thickens).

Stir Fry the Shallot Garlic and Chili

Step 4: Present The Dish

Serve the braised eggplants on a plate along with the sauce. Sprinkle some green onions and ground pepper for a final touch of garnish.

Add Fried Eggplant to the Sauce

Cà tím kho tộ is best served with rice or bread.

Ca Tim Kho To

What Are Extra Tips for Making Vietnamese Braised Eggplant?

Before rolling into your kitchen, here are the simple tips you can try to make cà tím kho tộ:

  • When frying, you need to maintain a medium-low temperature to prevent the oil from splattering.
  • You can adjust the spices accordingly to fit your taste buds.
  • Aside from rice and bread, cà tím kho tộ is great for enjoying with salad options.
Tips and Tricks Making Ca Tim Kho To

Elevate Your Eggplant with Cà Tím Kho Tộ!

Cà tím kho tộ is a delightful Vietnamese dish of braised eggplants known for its meaty, savory, and addictive flavors. The dish’s simple cooking methods, ingredients, and tools make cà tím kho tộ a reliable choice to create at home.

Don’t forget to share this article so anyone can turn eggplants into brilliant dishes with a savory profile. Plus, you can leave a comment sharing your experience with Vietnamese dishes or any recipe related to eggplants.

Ca Tim Kho To

Cà Tím Kho Tộ Recipe (Vietnamese Braised Eggplant)

Cà tím kho tộ, or Vietnamese braised eggplant with minced pork, is a great way to turn bland eggplants into a savory delicacy. Follow along to discover how you can create this dish at home.
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate Save Recipe
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: Braised Eggplant with Minced Pork, Ca tim kho to, Cà Tím Nhồi Thịt Kho Tộ, Vietnamese Braised Eggplant
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Dietary Preference: Dairy-Free, Gluten-free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 195kcal

Equipment

  • Skillet
  • Knife
  • Chopping Board
  • Tongs
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Eco-friendly disposable plastic gloves

Ingredients

  • 5.29 ounces of minced pork
  • 2 medium eggplants
  • 15 ml of lime juice with a tablespoon of salt
  • 1.41 ounces of chopped shallot, garlic, and chili
  • 0.52 ounces of green onion
  • Vegetable oil
  • 100 ml of freshwater

For Marinating The Minced Pork

  • 1.5 teaspoons of brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground pepper

For Braising The Dish

  • 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder
  • 1.5 teaspoons of caramel sauce

Instructions 

  • Clean the vegetables like green onions and eggplants before leaving them to drain
    Combine water, 15 ml of lime juice, and a tablespoon of salt.
    Soak the Eggplant
  • Cut the eggplants using a knife into slices of 2 inches. Then, continue to cut those slices lengthwise before giving each piece 5 to 6 slices that are not all the way through.
    Soak the eggplant pieces in a blend of lime juice and salt to prevent browning.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine minced pork with 1 ½ teaspoons of ground pepper, 1 teaspoon of brown sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
    Mix Thoroughly The Minced Meat
  • Fill the cracks of the eggplant pieces with the minced pork filling. Make sure not to overfill, or else you may burst the eggplant pieces.
    Eggplant Cracks with the Meat Filling
  • Put sufficient oil into a pan, ensure it’s not too hot to prevent splashing, and then start frying the eggplant pieces.
    Place Eggplant in Pan
  • Fry the eggplants at a medium-low temperature for 10 minutes and gently flip each side for an even golden brown color.
    Fry the Eggplants
  • After frying, stir-fry a mixture of shallot, garlic, and chili with freshwater before introducing the seasoning of 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of red pepper powder, and 1 ½ teaspoon of caramel sauce.
    Put the fried eggplant pieces into the skillet with the sauce and cover with a lid to cook for 10 to 15 minutes.
    Stir Fry the Shallot Garlic and Chili
  • Present the dish with the sauce alongside sprinkles of green onion and ground pepper. Serve with rice or bread.
    Add Fried Eggplant to the Sauce

Video

Notes

  • While frying the eggplants, I suggest maintaining a medium-low temperature to prevent the oil from splashing everywhere.
  • You can customize the seasoning volume according to your liking.
  • Try pairing cà tím kho tộ with salad dishes for interesting flavors.

Nutrition

Calories: 195kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 1160mg | Potassium: 719mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 1mg
Richie

Richie

Content Writer

Expertise

Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert

Education

Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

  • Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Vietnamese and Asian cuisines with intensive training and hands-on approach.

Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam

  • Program: Bartender
  • Focus: Basic knowledge on how to store, preserve and select ingredients, and practice cocktails, mocktails, hot and cold drinks.

Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.

Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating